Summary
When you dream of jetting off to somewhere warm and sunny, you likely picture a beach destination with temperatures in the 80s or maybe 90s—not a desert famous for its intense heat. With temperatures regularly soaring past 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest places on earth range from bustling cities to breathtaking desert landscapes.
Death Valley in California is typically recognized as the hottest place in the world due to its record-setting temperatures; however, some locations on this list might surprise you. While some of these areas are known for year-round scorching conditions, others can be relatively pleasant in cooler months, only to reach extreme highs as temperatures rise. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the 11 hottest places on earth.
1. Death Valley, California
According to the World Weather and Climate Extremes Archive of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), temperatures in Death Valley reached a staggering 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913—the hottest temperature ever recorded on the planet. Although some scientists debate the reliability of historical temperature readings, Death Valley reportedly hit 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer of 2020, reinforcing its reputation as one of the hottest places on earth.
2. Kebili, Tunisia
Kebili, Tunisia, holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in the Eastern Hemisphere at 131 degrees Fahrenheit in July 1931, making it one of the hottest places on earth.
3. Mitribah, Kuwait
Mitribah, Kuwait, recorded a blistering temperature of approximately 129 degrees Fahrenheit in July 2016, marking it as one of the hottest places in WMO’s Region II, which includes much of Asia.
4. Tirat Tsvi, Israel
Tirat Tsvi in Israel holds the record for the highest documented temperature of 129 degrees Fahrenheit in June 1942 among places in WMO’s Region VI (Europe, including the Middle East and Greenland).
5. Turbat, Pakistan
In May 2017, Turbat, Pakistan, recorded blisteringly hot temperatures exceeding 128 degrees Fahrenheit, linking itself among the hottest places in Asia.
6. Oodnadatta, Australia
Oodnadatta, located about midway between Adelaide and Alice Springs in Australia, is noted for having the highest temperature recorded in the Southern Hemisphere at 123 degrees Fahrenheit in January 1960 according to the WMO’s weather archive.
7. Rivadavia, Argentina
Rivadavia in Argentina boasts the highest temperature ever recorded in South America, reaching an extraordinary 120 degrees Fahrenheit in December 1905, as reported by the WMO.
8. Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece, set the record for continental Europe in July 1977, when temperatures reached a scorching 118.4 degrees Fahrenheit. If only the Acropolis had air-conditioning!
9. Lut Desert, Iran
NASA satellite imaging revealed additional scorching sites on earth, recording land skin temperatures (LSTs) in remote areas. Notably, a 2012 NASA report highlighted that Dasht-e Lut in Iran reached an astounding 159.3 degrees Fahrenheit in 2005.
10. Flaming Mountains, China
As the name “Flaming Mountains” suggests, this area experiences extreme heat, with LSTs exceeding 150 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in 2008, per NASA’s report.
11. Dallol, Ethiopia
While these places have set records for extreme heat, the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is consistently known for its year-round high temperatures. The Dallol hydrothermal field located within this region creates an utterly unique and surreal landscape.
